Centrifugal hand missile launcher



. INVENTOR.

Harlan B. Gram AT TORNE).

H. B. GROW CENTRIFUGAL HAND MISSILE- LAUNCHER 2 SheetsSheet 1 May 19, 1953 Flled Feb 27, 1948 May 19, 1953 H. B. GROW 2,633,703

CENTRIFUGAL HAND MISSILE LAUNCHER Filed Feb. 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flarzow B. row.

\Xi BY Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL HAND MISSILE LAUNCHER Harlow B. Grow, Linden, Mo.

Application February 27, 1948, Serial No. 11,375

9 Claims. (01. 4681) This invention relates generally to launchable missiles and launching means for such missiles, and is particularly applicable to toys, such as model airplanes, and launching devices for the latter.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a launchable missile in combination with launching means for such missile, and wherein said launching means comprises a rotary member journaled in a fixed handle, the latter having means for arresting the movement of the rotary member at will, and with which rotary member is secured a rotatable missileengaging element so arranged as to release the missile when the movement of the rotary member is momentarily stopped.

Another object of this invention is to provide a missile in the shape of a toy, such as a model airplane, provided with an engageable element, and a launching device including a handle and a rotary member journaled in the handle, and with which rotary member is associated, by means of two flexible connectors, a substantially hook-shaped, rotatable missile-engaging element adapted for engagement with the engageable element of the missile, and wherein the handle is provided with hand-operable means for stopping the rotation of said rotary member whereby the two connectors between the rotary member and the hook-shaped element are caused to change their position so that the hook-shaped element is rotated to release the missile and launch it.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a launcher for missiles of the type indicated, and which missile launcher is ,equipped with stop means for arresting the movement of the rotary part of the launcher at will, and wherein position indicating means for said stop means are provided whereby the desired type of launching a missile is determined.

The foregoing and still further objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming illustrative parts of the present invention, but intended to serve merely for descriptive purposes without confining this invention to the specific showing, and

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of the device in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectiontaken on line 2-2 of the upper part of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional viewthrough the rotary member of the device, takenon line 3--3 Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the hookshaped element of the device;

Fig. 5 is a partial section made through the missile along line 5-5 of the lower part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-4; through Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical illustration, partly in section along line 'l-l of Fig. 1, of the device, with its rotary parts shown in full lines prepara tory to the point of launching the missile, and with the rotary parts being. shown in broken lines at the point the missile is being released, the device being viewed in the directionof the section line arrows 11;

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the device shown at a point of launching the missile in another manner than that indicated in Fig. '7, and the view taken being in the direction of the arrows of section line 1-1 of Fig. 1; and r Fig. 9 illustrates a modified construction of the launcher, partly in cross section.

Referring now specifically to the figures, numeral I0 denotes a hollowhandle provided with a disc-like flange ,at the periphery of which latter are indicated difierently colored areas, such as red, green and blue, enumerated, respectively, at l2, l3 and I4. In a suitable enlargement I5 of disc ll there is mounted a spring-loaded plunger 16, the purpose of which will be explained presently.

Operatively associated with handle 10 is a rotary member l1 composed of a shaft [B jour- Y plunger I6 is in its full line position, wedgeshaped extension 22 will clear it (see Fig. 3); obviously arm 20 must always clear plunger I6. Secured to arms 20 and 2 l, by means of flexible connectors 23 and 24, is a missile-engaging element 25 comprising a substantially hook-shaped, ring formation having an outer peripheral channel or groove in which flexible connectors 23 and 24 are movably guided, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. The ends of these connectors are secured to the respective ends 26 and 21 of element 25.

A missile intended to be launched by the above described device is preferably in the form of a flying toy, such as a model airplane 28, and is provided with a recess 29. Transversing the recess is an engageable element in the shape of 3 a pin 30, adapted to be engaged by missile-engaging element in the manner shown in Fig. l, recess 29 serving to not only accommodate the element 2-5 but to permit it to rotate, and to guide it while being rotated to a missile-releasing position.

Modification Fig. 9v discloses a different construction of the missile launcher, although its function in respect to the missile remains unaltered. The handle 3| of the launcher is split longitudinally, its two halves being united along plane .32 when all its parts are assembled.

A journal 33 for a relatively short shaft 34 is centrally located in the handle and is provided with a suitable end recess for accommodating an annular shaft enlargement 35. ment limits the longitudinal movement of the shaft in its. journal.

Attached to the shaft end projecting from the handle is. a double bar 36 provided with end perforationsf or accommodating the ends of flexible connectors 23 and 24 extending to missileengaging element 25, as in Fig. 4.

Arran ed about midway between the outer shaft end and enlargement there extends from the shaft a pin 37; which is free to, revolve in a suitable recess. Movably mounted in the upper half of the handle is. a plunger 38, normally urged in outward direction by a spring 39:, and having an interior enlargement for limiting its outward movement. An extension of the plunger is intended to engage pin 31 when it is desired to arrest the rotation of the shaft.

At the periphery of the handle there are provided markings in different colors, such as red, green and blue numbered, respectively, at l2, l3 and I4. These markings facilitatethe positioning of the handle at three different angles to the normal, whereby three different types of the launching of the missile-are effected, as has been explained in-connection with Fig. 1.

Operation When it is. desired to launch the missile, the 'latt elr'is suspended from the launcher'by 'means'of hook-shaped element "25, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. swiinguntilrotfary member 11 commences to reivolve 'within the. handle in such a 'way that the irontfiace of f wedge-shaped extension 22,mo ves in the direction toward stop plunger [6. Such direction would be counter-clockwise when observing Fig. 1 ,and clockwisejwhen observing Figs. '7, and 8.

When the missilehas attained the desired velocity, plunger '16 isft'hrust into the pathof wedgeshaped'extension zz, in the manner indicated in Fig. 7;. As. a result, rotor 11 is stopped, while missile 28, s till engaged by hook-shaped element 25, continues inits'travel. Due to the now fixed position ofthe'rotor, connectors 23 and 24' change their position, andg'due totheir positional change, commeuc'eto revolve missile-engaging element 25 in plane passing through the peripheral groove thereof, During this positional change of the connectors, connector 23v so-to-speak unwinds itself'from element '25, whereas a portion of'connector 24 is wound up on that element, in the manner indicated in'br'oken lines in Fig. '7. This revolving. movement of element 25' causes the latter to release pin. 30 of missile 28, thereby launching, the missile.

hsis'tatedin.connection with the description of Fig. l. handle flange H is equipped with red,

That enlargegreen and blue markings at its periphery. When it is desired, for instance, to so launch the model airplane that it attains a high altitude, handle I 0 is held with the red marking of flange l l topmost, while the airplane is suspended from the hook in the manner shown in Fig. 1. When now stop plunger 16 is thrust into the path of wedge extension 22 airplane 2-8: is. released while it travels upwards, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 7.

When it is desired to launch the model airplane for a great distance flight, instead of for attaining a high altitude, the launching must take place a moment earlier than is required for a high altitude launching. In other words, stop plunger l6 is thrust into the path of wedge ex- The launcher handle is then tension 22 when blue field I4- of flange l I is uppermost. Great distance launching is indicated in Fig. 8. When a medium flight is desired ranging between high altitude and long distance, the handle must be held with green field E3 of flange II in the uppermost position.

In all events handle H3 is held parallel to the ground and the plane is released when hook 25 is below'the handle.

From the above described launching operations it becomes clear that the'opcrator of the device is completely relieved from the necessity of exercising particular skill to determine the point of release for any desired flight of the missile, the only requirement being that the operator holds the handle with the color designating the desired flight in uppermost position.

It is to be understood that the launching operations described in conjunction with the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1 apply equally to the launcher modification illustrated in Fig. 9.

While in the foregoing specific structures of the present device are described, it is quite obvious that changes and improvements may become necessary in adaptingthe device for launching different types of missiles, such changes and improvementslying within the broad scope of the present invention as defined in the annexed claims:

I claim:

1. In a toy, a launcher for a missile, said launcher comprising a handle, a rotary member journaled in the handle, a hook-s'haped-, movable element for releasably engaging the missile, a pair of connectors attached with one of their respective ends tosaidrotary member, their other ends being associated with the ends of said element so that the latter is held in a missile-engaging position, and manually operable means operative insaid handle and adapted to be moved into the path of said rotary memberior arresting the movement of-the latter, thereby effecting a positional, shift of said connectors, thuscausing said element to move to its missile-releasing position, and a missile releasably suspended from said element.

'2. In a toy, a missile launcher comprising a handle, a rotary-member journaled in and partly extending from the handle, arms provided. at the extending portion of the rotary member, a hook-shaped rotatable missile-engaging member, a pair of spaced connectors secured with one of their-ends to the arms of the rotary member, the other connector ends being attached to'the ends of-the missile-engaging member, a missile having means for engagement by and being suspended from said-latter member; spring-loaded, handoperable stop means for the rotary member op eratively mounted with said handle and being adapted to be momentarily placed into the path of rotation and to arrest the movement of the rotary member for the purpose of turning, by way of said connectors, said missile-engaging member, for releasing said missile.

3. In a toy as per claim 2, said handle having peripheral means for indicating desired positions of said stop means, whereby the type of launching of the missile is determined.

4. The combination with a launchable missile, of a launching device comprising a handle, a rotor composed of a shaft journaled in and partly extending from the handle, a bar affixed to the extending portion of the shaft, a substantially hook-shaped element for releasably engaging a missile, a missile suspended from said element, a pair of connectors extending from said bar to said element, said handle having a flange, a spring-loaded stop member operatively mounted in said flange and being adapted, when operated, to project into the path of rotation and to arrest the rotation of said bar, thereby so changing the position of said connectors in respect to said element that the latter is moved to its missile-releasing position at which the missile is launched.

5. The combination with a toy airplane, of a launching device for the latter, said launching device comprising a hollow handle having a circular flange at one end, a rotor journaled in the handle and comprising a shaft and a bar secured to the shaft, said bar having a wedge-shaped extension projecting toward said flange, a manually operative stop member mounted in the flange, a spring normally urging said stop member away from said bar extension, an engaging element for the toy airplane movably connected by flexible members with said bar and comprising a substantially hook-shaped formation with a grooved outer periphery for the accommodation of said flexible members, said stop member being adapted, when manually operated, to move into the path of said bar extension and to stopthe rotation of the bar, whereby the flexible members are caused to turn said airplane-engaging element to its airplane-releasing position for launching said airplane, and indicating means provided at the periphery of the handle flange for positioning the launching device to govern the type of movement to be imparted to the launched airplane.

6. In a missile-launching toy, a handle, a shaft journaled therein, a two-armed member fixedly associated with one end of the shaft, a pair of connectors, one end of each connector extending from each arm of said member, a peripherally grooved, ring-shaped, missile-engaging hook, the free ends of the connectors secured to the ends of said hook so that the connectors are movably guided in said groove, a missile releasably suspended from said hook, a manually operable element operatively supported in said handle for arresting the movement of said member when brought into the latters path of rotation, thereby causing said connectors to rotate the hook to a missile-releasing position.

7. In a missile-launching toy, a rotor, a journal for the rotor, a stop member for the rotor operatively supported by said journal and being adapted to be moved into the operating path of the rotor, a missile-engaging and missile-releasing element, a pair of flexible, spaced connectors extending between the rotor and said element, the latter forming a ring-shaped hook having a peripheral groove for guiding said connectors, a missile suspended by said hook, said stop member, when moved into the operating path of the rotor, causing the latter to momentarily stop, thereby changing the position of said connectors in respect to said hook so that the latter bodily revolves to its missile-releasing position.

8. In a missile-launching toy, a rotor, a journal for the rotor, a stop member for the rotor operatively supported by said journal and being adapted for projection into the operating path of the rotor, a missile-engaging and missile-releasing element operatively suspended therefrom, a missile suspended from said element, said element comprising a substantially ring-shaped hook having a groove at its outer periphery; a pair of spaced, flexible connectors extending from said rotor to the ends of said hook and engaging and being guided in said groove, said connectors being caused to bodily revolve said hook in the plane passing through said groove to a missilereleasing position as their position is changed by a momentary stopping of the rotation of the rotor, when said stop member is placed into the operating path of the rotor.

9. In a device of the class indicated, a launcher comprising a handle, a rotor operative in the handle and including a shaft and a revolvable bar, a pair of spaced connectors secured to said bar so that one of the ends of each connector extends from a respective bar end, a hook-shaped missile-engaging element, the other ends of said connectors being operatively associated with the ends of said element, a stop plunger operative in the handle, the rotor having means engageable by said stop plunger for arresting the movement of the rotor, thereby causing said element to be rotated and thus to be shifted by said connectors from its missile-engaging to a missile-releasing position, and a missile suspended from. said elemen HARLOW B. GROW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 236,691 Parsil Jan. 18, 1881 2,122,984 Loomis July 5, 1938 2,206,213 Weidemann July 2, 1910 2,363,970 Kalep Nov. 218, 1944 2,490,802 I-Ianff Dec. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 448,979 Great Britain June 18, 1936 

